EXHIBIT 10.1
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered into this ______
day of ____________, 199__ between Xxxx, Xxxxxx & Associates, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("the Company") and Name ("Indemnitee").
WITNESSETH THAT:
WHEREAS, Indemnitee performs a valuable service for the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company have adopted Bylaws
(the "Bylaws") providing for the indemnification of the officers and directors
of the Company to the maximum extent authorized by Section 145 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law, as amended ("Law"); and
WHEREAS, the Bylaws and the Law, by their nonexclusive nature, permit
contracts between the Company and the officers or directors of the Company with
respect to indemnification of such officers or directors; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with the authorization as provided by the Law,
the Company may purchase and maintain a policy or policies of director's and
officer's liability insurance ("D & O Insurance"), covering certain liabilities
which may be incurred by its officers or directors in the performance of their
obligations to the Company; and
WHEREAS, as a result of recent developments affecting the terms, scope
and availability of D & O Insurance there exists general uncertainty as to the
extent of protection afforded Company officers and directors by such D & O
Insurance and said uncertainty also exists under statutory and bylaw
indemnification provisions; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of past services and in order to induce
Indemnitee to continue to serve as an officer or director of the Company, the
Company has determined and agreed to enter into this contract with Indemnitee;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of Indemnitee's continued service as
an officer or director after the date hereof, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1. INDEMNITY OF INDEMNITEE. The Company hereby agrees to hold
-----------------------
harmless and indemnify Indemnitee to the full extent authorized or permitted by
the provisions of the Law, as such may be amended from time to time, and Article
VII, Section 6 of the Bylaws, as such may be amended. In furtherance of the
foregoing indemnification, and without limiting the generality thereof:
(a) Proceedings Other Than Proceedings by or in the Right of the
------------------------------------------------------------
Company. Indemnitee shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided
in this Section l(a) if, by reason of his Corporate Status (as hereinafter
defined), he is, or is threatened to be
made, a party to or participant in any Proceeding (as hereinafter defined) other
than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company. Pursuant to this Section
1(a), Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses (as hereinafter
defined), judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually
and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with such
Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if he acted in good faith and
in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests
of the Company and, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, had no reasonable
cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
(b) Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. Indemnitee
---------------------------------------------
shall be entitled to the rights of indemnification provided in this Section 1(b)
if, by reason of his Corporate Status, he is, or is threatened to be made, a
party to or participant in any Proceeding brought by or in the right of the
Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 1(b),
Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably
incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding if he acted
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the Company; provided, however, that, if applicable law so
provides, no indemnification against such Expenses shall be made in respect of
any claim, issue or matter in such Proceeding as to which Indemnitee shall have
been adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and to the extent that the
Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall determine that such
indemnification may be made.
(c) Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or
--------------------------------------------------------
Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the
-----------------
extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a party to and is
successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, he shall be
indemnified to the maximum extent permitted by law against all Expenses actually
and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith. If
Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the
merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or
matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all
Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection
with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. For purposes of this
Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in
such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be
a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.
2. ADDITIONAL INDEMNITY. In addition to, and without regard to any
--------------------
limitations on, the indemnification provided for in Section 1, the Company shall
and hereby does indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against all Expenses,
judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf if, by reason of his Corporate
Status he is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or participant in any
Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company),
including, without limitation, all liability arising out of the negligence or
active or passive wrongdoing of Indemnitee. The only limitation that shall
exist upon the Company's obligations pursuant to this Agreement shall be that
the Company shall not be obligated to make any payment to Indemnitee that is
finally determined (under the procedures, and subject to the presumptions, set
forth in Sections 6 and 7 hereof) to be unlawful under Delaware law.
2
3. CONTRIBUTION IN THE EVENT OF JOINT LIABILITY.
--------------------------------------------
(a) Whether or not the indemnification provided in Sections 1 and
2 hereof is available, in respect of any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit or proceeding in which Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee
(or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), Company shall pay,
in the first instance, the entire amount of any judgment or settlement of such
action, suit or proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such
payment and Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it
may have against Indemnitee. Company shall not enter into any settlement of any
action, suit or proceeding in which Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee
(or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding) unless such
settlement provides for a full and final release of all claims asserted against
Indemnitee.
(b) Without diminishing or impairing the obligations of the
Company set forth in the preceding subparagraph, if, for any reason, Indemnitee
shall elect or be required to pay all or any portion of any judgment or
settlement in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding in
which Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such
action, suit or proceeding), Company shall contribute to the amount of expenses
(including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually and reasonably incurred and paid or payable by Indemnitee in proportion
to the relative benefits received by the Company and all officers, directors or
employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who are jointly liable with
Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or proceeding), on the
one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, from the transaction from which
such action, suit or proceeding arose; provided, however, that the proportion
determined on the basis of relative benefit may, to the extent necessary to
conform to law, be further adjusted by reference to the relative fault of
Company and all officers, directors or employees of the Company other than
Indemnitee who are jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such
action, suit or proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand,
in connection with the events that resulted in such expenses, judgments, fines
or settlement amounts, as well as any other equitable considerations which the
law may require to be considered. The relative fault of Company and all
officers, directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who are
jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such action, suit or
proceeding), on the one hand, and Indemnitee, on the other hand, shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, the degree to which their
actions were motivated by intent to gain personal profit or advantage, the
degree to which their liability is primary or secondary, and the degree to which
their conduct is active or passive.
(c) Company hereby agrees to fully indemnify and hold Indemnitee
harmless from any claims of contribution which may be brought by officers,
directors or employees of the Company other than Indemnitee who may be jointly
liable with Indemnitee.
4. INDEMNIFICATION FOR EXPENSES OF A WITNESS. Notwithstanding any
-----------------------------------------
other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason
of his Corporate Status, a
3
witness in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, he shall be
indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on
his behalf in connection therewith.
5. ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES. Notwithstanding any other provision of
-----------------------
this Agreement, the Company shall advance all reasonable Expenses incurred by or
on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding by reason of
Indemnitee's Corporate Status within ten days after the receipt by the Company
of a statement or statements from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances
from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such
Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses
incurred by Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by an
undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay any Expenses advanced if it
shall ultimately be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified
against such Expenses. Any advances and undertakings to repay pursuant to this
Section 5 shall be unsecured and interest free. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the obligation of the Company to advance Expenses pursuant to this Section 5
shall be subject to the condition that, if, when and to the extent that the
Company determines that Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified
under applicable law, the Company shall be entitled to be reimbursed, within
thirty (30) days of such determination, by Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to
reimburse the Company) for all such amounts theretofore paid; provided, however,
that if Indemnitee has commenced or thereafter commences legal proceedings in a
court of competent jurisdiction to secure a determination that Indemnitee should
be indemnified under applicable law, any determination made by the Company that
Indemnitee would not be permitted to be indemnified under applicable law shall
not be binding and Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for
any advance of Expenses until a final judicial determination is made with
respect thereto (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted
or lapsed).
6. PROCEDURES AND PRESUMPTIONS FOR DETERMINATION OF ENTITLEMENT TO
---------------------------------------------------------------
INDEMNIFICATION. It is the intent of this Agreement to secure for Indemnitee
---------------
rights of indemnity that are as favorable as may be permitted under the law and
public policy of the State of Delaware. Accordingly, the parties agree that the
following procedures and presumptions shall apply in the event of any question
as to whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement:
(a) To obtain indemnification (including, but not limited to, the
advancement of Expenses and contribution by the Company) under this Agreement,
Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or
therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to
Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent
Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. The Secretary of the Company shall,
promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board of
Directors in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.
(b) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification
pursuant to the first sentence of Section 6(a) hereof, a determination, if
required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee's entitlement thereto
shall be made in the specific case by one of the
4
following three methods, which shall be at the election of Indemnitee: (1) by a
majority vote of the disinterested directors, even though less than a quorum, or
(2) by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (3) by the
stockholders.
(c) If the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to
be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof, the Independent
Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 6(c). The Independent
Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that
such selection be made by the Board of Directors). Indemnitee or the Company, as
the case may be, may, within 10 days after such written notice of selection
shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may
be, a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such
objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so
selected does not meet the requirements of "Independent Counsel" as defined in
Section 14 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with
particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely
objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If a written
objection is made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel selected may not
serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a
court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within 20 days
after submission by Indemnitee of a written request for indemnification pursuant
to Section 6(a) hereof, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not
objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Court of Chancery
of the State of Delaware or other court of competent jurisdiction for resolution
of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the
other's selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as
Independent Counsel of a person selected by the court or by such other person as
the court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections
are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel
under Section 6(b) hereof. The Company shall pay any and all reasonable fees and
expenses of Independent Counsel incurred by such Independent Counsel in
connection with acting pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof, and the Company shall
pay all reasonable fees and expenses incident to the procedures of this Section
6(c), regardless of the manner in which such Independent Counsel was selected or
appointed.
(d) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to
indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such
determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under
this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in
accordance with Section 6(a) of this Agreement. Anyone seeking to overcome this
presumption shall have the burden of proof and the burden of persuasion, by
clear and convincing evidence.
(e) Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if
Indemnitee's action is based on the records or books of account of the
Enterprise, including financial statements, or on information supplied to
Indemnitee by the officers of the Enterprise in the course of their duties, or
on the advice of legal counsel for the Enterprise or on information or records
given or reports made to the Enterprise by an independent certified public
accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by
the Enterprise. In addition, the
5
knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any director, officer, agent or
employee of the Enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of
determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement. Whether or not
the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(e) are satisfied, it shall in any
event be presumed that Indemnitee has at all times acted in good faith and in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the Company. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden
of proof and the burden of persuasion, by clear and convincing evidence.
(f) The Company acknowledges that a settlement or other
disposition short of final judgment may be successful if it permits a party to
avoid expense, delay, distraction, disruption and uncertainty. In the event that
any action, claim or proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party is resolved in
any manner other than by adverse judgment against Indemnitee (including, without
limitation, settlement of such action, claim or proceeding with or without
payment of money or other consideration) it shall be presumed that Indemnitee
has been successful on the merits or otherwise in such action, suit or
proceeding. Anyone seeking to overcome this presumption shall have the burden of
proof and the burden of persuasion, by clear and convincing evidence.
(g) If the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under
Section 6 to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall
not have made a determination within thirty (30) days after receipt by the
Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to
indemnification shall be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be
entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a
material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee's
statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for
indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable
law; provided, however, that such 30 day period may be extended for a reasonable
time, not to exceed an additional fifteen (15) days, if the person, persons or
entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification
in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating
documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that
the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(g) shall not apply if the
determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the
stockholders pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement and if (A) within
fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such
determination the Board of Directors or the Disinterested Directors, if
appropriate, resolve to submit such determination to the stockholders for their
consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within seventy five (75)
days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special
meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt
for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such
purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such
determination is made threat.
(h) Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity
making such determination with respect to Indemnitee's entitlement to
indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon
reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not
privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and
6
which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such
determination. Any Independent Counsel, member of the Board of Directors, or
stockholder of the Company shall act reasonably and in good faith in making a
determination under the Agreement of the Indemnitee's entitlement to
indemnification. Any costs or expenses (including attorneys' fees and
disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons
or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective
of the determination as to Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification) and the
Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
7. REMEDIES OF INDEMNITEE.
----------------------
(a) In the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to
Section 6 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification
under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant
to Section 5 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to
indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement
within 90 days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification,
(iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to this Agreement within
ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, or (v)
payment of indemnification is not made within ten (10) days after a
determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification or
such determination is deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 6 of this
Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate
court of the State of Delaware, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction,
of his entitlement to such indemnification. Indemnitee shall commence such
proceeding seeking an adjudication within 180 days following the date on which
Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this
Section 7(a). The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee's right to seek any such
adjudication.
(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made
pursuant to Section 6(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification, any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 7
shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, on the merits and
Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination.
(c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section
6(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the
Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding
commenced pursuant to this Section 7, absent a prohibition of such
indemnification under applicable law.
(d) In the event that Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 7,
seeks a judicial adjudication of his rights under, or to recover damages for
breach of, this Agreement, or to recover under any directors' and officers'
liability insurance policies maintained by the Company the Company shall pay on
his behalf, in advance, any and all expenses (of the types described in the
definition of Expenses in Section 16 of this Agreement) actually and reasonably
incurred by him in such judicial adjudication, regardless of whether Indemnitee
ultimately is
7
determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of expenses or
insurance recovery.
(e) The Company shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial
proceeding commenced pursuant to this Section 7 that the procedures and
presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall
stipulate in any such court that the Company is bound by all the provisions of
this Agreement.
8. NON-EXCLUSIVITY; SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS; INSURANCE; SUBROGATION.
-----------------------------------------------------------
(a) The rights of indemnification as provided by this Agreement
shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any
time be entitled under applicable law, the certificate of incorporation of the
Company, the Bylaws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of
directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or
of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under
this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in
his Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the
extent that a change in the Law, whether by statute or judicial decision,
permits greater indemnification than would be afforded currently under the
Bylaws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that
Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by
such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of
any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative
and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or
hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment
of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent
assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.
(b) To the extent that the Company maintains an insurance policy
or policies providing liability insurance for directors, officers, employees, or
agents or fiduciaries of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such
person serves at the request of the Company, Indemnitee shall be covered by such
policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent
of the coverage available for any such director, officer, employee or agent
under such policy or policies.
(c) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company
shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of
recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all
action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as
are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.
(d) The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make
any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if and to the extent
that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance
policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.
8
9. EXCEPTION TO RIGHT OF INDEMNIFICATION. Notwithstanding any other
-------------------------------------
provision of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification
under this Agreement with respect to any Proceeding brought by Indemnitee, or
any claim therein, unless (a) the bringing of such Proceeding or making of such
claim shall have been approved by the Board of Directors or (b) such Proceeding
is being brought by the Indemnitee to assert his rights under this Agreement.
10. DURATION OF AGREEMENT. All agreements and obligations of the
---------------------
Company contained herein shall continue during the period Indemnitee is an
officer or director of the Company (or is or was serving at the request of the
Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise) and shall continue
thereafter so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any Proceeding (or any
proceeding commenced under Section 7 hereof) by reason of his Corporate Status,
whether or not he is acting or serving in any such capacity at the time any
liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under
this Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit
of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors
(including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation
or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the
Company), assigns, spouses, heirs, executors and personal and legal
representatives. This Agreement shall continue in effect regardless of whether
Indemnitee continues to serve as an officer or director of the Company or any
other enterprise at the Company's request.
11. SECURITY. To the extent requested by the Indemnitee and approved
--------
by the Board of Directors, the Company may at any time and from time to time
provide security to the Indemnitee for the Company's obligations hereunder
through an irrevocable bank line of credit, funded trust or other collateral.
Any such security, once provided to the Indemnitee, may not be revoked or
released without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee.
12. ENFORCEMENT.
-----------
(a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered
into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to
induce Indemnitee to serve as an officer or director of the Company, and the
Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving
as an officer or director of the Company.
(b) This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all
prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
9
13. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Agreement:
-----------
(a) "Corporate Status" describes the status of a person who is or
was a director, officer, employee or agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any
other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or
other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the express written
request of the Company.
(b) "Disinterested Director" means a director of the Company who
is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification
is sought by Indemnitee.
(c) "Enterprise" shall mean the Company and any other
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise of which Indemnitee is or was serving at the express written request
of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary.
(d) "Expenses" shall include all reasonable attorneys' fees,
retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel
expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges,
postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements or expenses of the
types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing
to prosecute or defend, investigating, participating, or being or preparing to
be a witness in a Proceeding.
(e) "Independent Counsel" means a law firm, or a member of a law
firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently
is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company
or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with
respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other
indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party
to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term "Independent Counsel" shall not include
any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then
prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company
or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee's rights under this
Agreement. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent
Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify such counsel against any and
all Expenses, claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this
Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto.
(f) "Proceeding" includes any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism,
investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened
or completed proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or
otherwise and whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which
Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party or otherwise, by reason of the
fact that Indemnitee is or was a director of the Company, by reason of any
action taken by him or of any inaction on his part while acting as an officer or
director of the Company, or by
10
reason of the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise; in each case whether or not he is acting or
serving in any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred
for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement; including one
pending on or before the date of this Agreement; and excluding one initiated by
an Indemnitee pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement to enforce his rights
under this Agreement.
14. SEVERABILITY. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement
------------
shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void, illegal
or otherwise unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement
(including without limitation, each portion of any section of this Agreement
containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that
is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be
affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent
permitted by law; and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this
Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any section of this
Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be
construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.
15. MODIFICATION AND WAIVER. No supplement, modification,
-----------------------
termination or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in
writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of
this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other
provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a
continuing waiver.
16. NOTICE BY INDEMNITEE. Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the
--------------------
Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena,
complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding
or matter which may be subject to indemnification covered hereunder. The failure
to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which
it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise.
17. NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
-------
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (i)
delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other
communication shall have been directed, or (ii) mailed by certified or
registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date
on which it is so mailed:
(a) If to Indemnitee, to the address set forth below Indemnitee
signature hereto.
11
(b) If to the Company, to:
Xxxx, Xxxxxx & Associates, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
or to such other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by
the Company or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.
18. IDENTICAL COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or
----------------------
more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an
original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is
sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.
19. HEADINGS. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are
--------
inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this
Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.
20. GOVERNING LAW. The parties agree that this Agreement shall be
-------------
governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the
State of Delaware without application of the conflict of laws principles
thereof.
21. GENDER. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include
------
usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate.
12
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on
and as of the day and year first above written.
XXXX, XXXXXX & ASSOCIATES, INC.
By:__________________________________________
_____________________________________________
((Name)), Indemnitee
Address: ((Address))
